Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
The many stories of Jesus clearly show his love for children. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them. For to such as these belong the kingdom of heaven.” The stories we hear in the New Testament are told by Jesus’s followers, his disciples, all adults. But, what about these children whom he loved so much? What about their stories? We can only surmise that children, like little Imma, had wonderful, loving stories about their experiences with Jesus. Imma heard many of Jesus’s stories and she was able to talk to him, simply, as a child would. She asked him simple questions, like “Are you saying that your teachings are like spiritual food?” This was after she had witnessed first-hand the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes. Jesus was able to talk to her at her level of understanding without making her feel insignificant. “You are my littlest disciple, Imma.”
Now, perhaps the Imma of these stories never existed, but there must have been many other children who met Jesus, interacted with him and learned from him – other littlest disciples. Joshua Cartwright’s children’s story, Jesus and Me: One Child’s Friendship with the Son of God, provides another look at the well-known stories of the Bible, a look through the eyes of children. This may be written for children, but since we are all children of God and must believe as children believe, then these stories are relevant to us older children as well. The illustrations carry the story along and the useful author note to parents helps explain the use of scripture to present a fictional story of a possible encounter between one child and Jesus. A wonderful learning tool to expand one’s faith, written for children of all ages.
